January 22, 2003
ORAL ANTIOXIDANT SUPPLEMENTATION IN DIABETIC PATIENTS PREVENTS OCULAR SURFACE DISEASE
BJO dec 2002
Diabetes mellitus is regrettably associated with a number of ocular complications. Ocular surface manifestations in diabetics have been a subject of increased interest over the past few years. Sitaras and colleagues present the findings of 50 patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes who were given vitamin C (100 mg/day) and vitamin E (400 IU/day) for 10 days. Nitrite levels were found to be significantly reduced after 10 days of vitamin C and E supplementation. Moreover, improved values for the Schirmer test and increased goblet cell density were also demonstrated. The authors suggest that oxidative stress and free radical production that is known to be associated with diabetes can be inhibited by vitamin C and E supplementation. This in turn reduces the oxidative damage produced by nitric oxide and other free radicals and thus improves the ocular surface disorders associated with diabetes. See more ...
Posted by M.Tabrizi MD
Posted by mtmdop at January 22, 2003 12:40 AM